Ham pumping device



Se t. 20, 1966 E. A, SCHLERNITZAUER 3,273,487

HAM PUMPING DEVICE Filed June 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDWARD A. SCI- LE/RlV/TZ'AUEA A TTORNEY.

p 1966 E. A. SCHLERNITZAUER 3,273,457

HAM PUMPING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1964 INVENTOR. EDWA PD A. SCHLERN/TZA UER A TTORNEK Sept. 20, 1966 Filed June 5, 1964 E. A. SCHLERNITZAUER HAM PUMPING DEVI GE :3 Sheets-Sheet 5 f MAMM/va INVENTOR.

EDWARD A. SCHLERN/TZAUER' BY I L ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,273,487 HAM PUMPING DEVICE Edward A. Schlernitzauer, Tampa, Fla., assignor to Swift & Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 372,975 Claims. (Cl. 99-254) The present invention deals generally with apparatus for processing hams; and more specifically, the present invention is directed to an improved apparatus comprising a turntable and a plurality of automatic pumping scales mounted thereon for the injection of pickling fluid into hams.

In the processing of hams for the consumer market it is necessary that each ham be treated with brine or other preservative pickle solution. Originally, this was done by immersion a number of green hams in a large vat containing such pickle liquid. More recently, however, various apparatus have been devised for injecting such pickle liquid directly into the veins of individual hams to materially speed the process and reduce the time required for the liquid to reach all portions of each ham. Certain of these apparatus include automatic scaling mechanisms whereby a preselected percentage of green ham weight is automatically calculated by the apparatus and an amount of pickle liquid in such percentage is then automatically injected into such hams. Such apparatus usually dispenses a volume of liquid initially calculated regardless of whether the liquid is actually retained in a ham; however, a preferred apparatus calculates the pumped weight to be attained by a given ham and continues to pump pickle until such weight is reached.

In using such apparatus, it has, however, been necessary to employ an operator for every one or two automatic scale mechanisms to load and unload the scales and also to manipulate the pickle injecting needles. It is obvious to those skilled in this art that much of an operators time is wasted during the period required by such apparatus to arrive at the recentage of pickle to be injected and then pump same into the ham. In fact, it would be possible for a single operator to load and unload a number of such automatic pickle pumping apparatus if it were not for the problem of moving from one apparatus to another.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whereon a plurality of automatic pickle injecting scales may be mounted and be moved thereby sequentially past an operator standing at a given location.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that is suitably cushioned so as to be substantially shock-free.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cushioned and substantially shock-free rotary turntable whereon a plurality of automatic pumping scales may be mounted, such scales are of the type that continuously weigh the ham throughout the pickle pumping function so as to continue pumping until the ham accepts and retains a preselected percentage, by weight, of pickle, or is otherwise terminated.

Basically, the present invention comprises a plurality of automatic pickle pumping scales that are concentrically mounted, equally spaced, on a circular table which is, in turn, mounted upon a cushioned undercarriage wherein all vertical supporting members contacting the turntable are spring-mounted. A drive means is provided to continuously rotate the turntable past a work station for a single attendant. Suitable supply lines for pickling liquid and high pressure air, or the like, are provided from remote reservoirs for Operation of the automatic scale and pumping apparatus.

3,273,487 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1 with the automatic scale and pumping units removed;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the undercarriage of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, with the turntable removed for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 with certain parts removed and other parts in section;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed vertical section view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4 illustrating the main vertical shaft of the apparatus; and r FIGURE 6 is a detailed vertical sectional view of a leg of the undercarriage of the apparatus.

The preferred apparatus of the present invention, as may be seen best in FIGURES 1 and 4, is comprised generally of a plurality of automatic scale pumping units 10 mounted on a rotary turntable 11 the latter of which comprises a circular table top 12 revolved upon an undercarriage 13 by a continuous drive means 14. I have found that a total of six automatic scale and pumping units generally 10 is highly desirable as an optimum number of units that one attendant may service with a minimum of idle time.

Preferably, the automatic scale and pumping units generally 10 are of a type that may be preset to inject pickle into a ham placed thereon until the ham weight increases a desired percentage of the green weight. In particular, the preferred type of scale and pumping unit will continue to pump a given ham, while continuously measuring its weight, until the ham accepts and retains the desired percentage weight of fluid, or is manually removed from the scale. Such an item of equipment and its operation is described in the Hensgen, et a1. Patents No. 2,755,731 and 2,809,115, the disclosures of which are included herein by reference. A commercially available instrument of this type is known to the industry as a Hagan automatic ham scale and is manufactured and sold by the Calgon Company Division of Hagen Chemicals and Controls, Inc.

Basically, the automatic scale and pumping units, generally 10, comprise a scale pan 20 adapted to receive and weighingly support a ham above a cabinet 21 which displays outer controls 22 and encases the scale mechanism proportioning and pumping equipment. A pair of alternate pickle injection hoses and needles 23, 24 extend from the cabinet 21. A weight indicator gauge 25 is preferably mounted behind the scale cabinet 21 and is connected thereto by a pneumatic instrument line, not shown. It is preferable, although not necessary, to mount a choker device generally 28 on the scale pan 20 for constricting the shank end of a ham while it is being pumped, and thereby reduce the tendency of the ham to leak through veins severed at that end.

The foregoing scale structure is well known in the art and does not per se constitute the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a total of six automatic scale and pumping units generally 10, as above described, are mounted on the circular table top generally 12. The latter is constructed of a circular stainless steel plate 30 mounted to the top of a central hub 31 and a plurality of radial spokes or stiffeners 32. A circular stiffener 33 is secured to the underside of the circular plate 30 about two-thirds distant from the hub to an outer peripheral rim 34 to provide structural rigidity and also to form a track or raceway as will subsequently become clear. A main vertical shaft 38 is demountably or otherwise secured to the pipe 58. sleeve 51 is a compression spring 65 which bears upwardly against the under surface of the upper pipe 58 and fastened to the underside of the hub 31 and extends downwardly into the undercarriage generally 13 as Will hereinafter be described. Preferably the main shaft 38 is a hollow unit of pipe which accommodates a small diameter rigid pipe constituting an airline 39 to service the scale pumping unit 10, and choker 28. A liquid p1ckle line 40, which also services the pickle pumping units from a remote reservoir (not shown) is suspended from above the device. Both service lines 39, 46 are connected through a pair of rotary coupling 41 secured above the hub 31.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the circular plate 30 is surmounted by a centrally located hexagonal enclosure 42, the walls of which form mounting panels for the scale gauges 25. Outwandly of the enclosure 42 are mounted a plurality of triangular or wedge-shaped stands 43 which are spaced about the periphery of the turntable generally 11 to provide interspaced pockets in which the automatic scale and pumping units generally are seated on mount- I ing pads 44 (shown in FIGURE 2).

With particular reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, it may be seen that the circular table top generally 12 rests upon an undercarriage generally 13 which is comprised mainly of a plurality of vertical legs generally 50. The details of these legs are illustrated in FIGURE 6. Each leg comprises a main sleeve 51 receiving at the bottom thereof a foot generally 52 formed of an interior pipe 53 and a base pad 54. The elevation of the pipe 53 within sleeve 51 is adjustably secured by means of a lock screw 55. An

upper pipe 58 extends from within the top of the sleeve 51. The upper pipe contains aligned slots to receive a guide bolt 50, extending through the sleeve 51, which prevents rotation of the upper pipe 58 and which may also, for maintenance purposes, be tightened down to lock the latter in a desired vertical position.

The upper end of pipe 58 is surmounted by a castor wheel 61 which is rotatably held within a U-bracket welded Interiorly of the is held in position within the sleeve 51 by a base plate 66. In turn, the spring base plate 66 is mounted upon counteract forces acting downwardly upon the castor wheel 61.

Preferably, six vertical legs are provided and are held in position by lower and upper spiders generally 75 and 76. The lower spider is formed about a central bearing housing 80 from which extends 6 radial arms 81 to each of the equally spaced vertical legs 50. A peripheral frame for the spider 75 is in the form of a regular hexagon that is formed by six members 82. A radial arm 81 and two adjacent peripheral members 82 are welded to the lower portion of each leg sleeve 51. Also as may be seen in FIGURE 4 the continuous drive means generally 14 is mounted upon the lower spider generally 75.

The upper spider generally 76 is similarly welded to the upper portion of each leg sleeve 51, and is constructed about a centrally disposed bearing housing 90 from which '5 radial arms 91 extend, and about which seven peripheral members 92 are disposed to form a seven-sided frame roughly approximating the lower spider generally 75 but clearing the continuous drive means generally 14. The cast-or wheels 61 are positioned tangential t-o housings 80, 90 (perpendicular to the radial arms), and the legs 50 are located so that the castor wheels support turntable 11 along the bottom track of stiffener 33.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the structure of the bearing housings 80 and 90 and the vertical main shaft 38 may be seen. The main shaft 38 extends downwardly through the upper bearing housing 90 and into the lower bearing 4 includes a ball-bearing race 96 within which the shaft 38 may rotate. In turn, the bearing box is urged upwardly against the weight on the shaft 38 by a concentrically mounted compression spring 97.

Similarly, the lower bearing housing contains a bearing box 98 mounted for vertical movement and containing a ball-bearing race 99 and a thrust bearing 100 upon which the shaft 38 rotates. The lower bearing box 98 is also urged upwardly by a compression spring 101. As also may be seen in FIGURE 5, a drive sprocket is secured to the main shaft 38 between the bearing housings 80 and 90.

At this point it should be observed that each member of the undercarriage generally 13 which is in supporting contact with the turntable generally 11, is cushioned by springs to absorb vibrations and shocks to which the turntable may be subjected. Only in this way was it found possible to utilize the above mentioned preferred type of automatic scale and pumping unit generally 10 which continuously scales at given ham throughout its processing and while the turntable is moving. Of further importance is the undercarriage structure which enables the feet 52 of the vertical legs 50 to be adjusted while maintaining the table top 12 horizontal. Still further, the compression springs '65 in each of the vertical legs 50 may be adjusted independently of one another to evenly distribute the load from the turntable generally 11. Preferably the latter springs 65 are adjusted so that 50% of the turntable load is supported by hearing box springs 97, 101, at the main shaft 38, and the remainder is distributed evenly upon all of the casters 61.

A preferred drive means generally 14, shown best in FIGURES 3 and 4, comprises an electric motor mounted upon motor stand 111 by a horizontal screw member 112. The latter may be adjusted by a hand wheel 113 to move the motor short distances laterally of its axis (a commercially available unit is a Tel-I Reeves Motor Base which has a '2.75l variable speed adjustrnent). The motor stand 111 is seated on a plurality of mounting springs 115 secured to the lower spider 75. A variable speed motor pulley 116 is mounted on the motor I shaft and is connected by a belt 117 to a vertically disposed sleeve 118 of a 90-degree worm gear drive generally 120. The variable speed pulley 116 is of the type that has spring loaded sides permitting the effective diameter of the pulley to be increased or decreased by lateral movement of the motor upon the mounting screw 112.

The 90-degree worm gear drive generally 120 includes a horizontally disposed output sprocket 121 which is connected to an upper sprocket 123 of a vertical jack shaft 124 by means of a drive chain 125. Finally, a lower sprocket 126 on the jack shaft 124 is connected by a drive train 127 with the drive sprocket 105 on the main shaft 38.

In operation, the electric motor 110 is operated to continuously drive the turntable generally 11 through the above described drive train. The speed of the electric motor is adjusted by means of hand wheel 113 in accordance with the operating pace of a working attendant. When operating, the automatic scale and pickle pumping units generally 10 are supplied with air pressure and pickle fluid through the respective lines 39 and 40 at normal operating pressure. As the machine rotates, an attendant, standing at one position, lifts a green ham from a storage bin and places it upon the first scale pan 20 approaching him. He immediately inserts one needle 23, opening its valve, and actuates a choker 28 if desired. The scale and pickle pumping unit generally 10 will immediately automatically function. The operator continues to load the next approaching scales in the same fashion as the turntable generally 11 rotates. Speed of the device is also such as to allow suflicient time for the scale units 10 to complete the pumping of hams during one rotation of turntable 11.

As the first loaded ham returns toward the operator, he selects another green ham and places it upon one of the top stands 43 adjacent the first scale pan. While so 10- cated, the attendant takes the alternate needle 24 and inserts it in the new ham, opening the valve thereof, and immediately removes the first needle 23 from the first processed ham, closing that valve, and removes the latter from the scale pan 20. He then quickly transfers the new green ham from the top stand 43 onto the vacated scale pan and the apparatus will again automatically function. The attendant then repeats these operations as each scale pan approaches, ad infinitum.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved apparatus for pumping hams, said apparatus comprising: a horizontal table mounted for rotation about a centrally disposed vertical axis; a plurality of automatic pickle pumping scales mounted uniformly spaced about the top of said table; a main vertical shaft supporting said table at said vertical axis; hearing means holding said main shaft, said bearing means being vertically cushioned on springs; a plurality of casters rollingly supporting said table outwardly of said main shaft, said casters being equally spaced radially and peripherally with respect to said main shaft; an equal plurality of adjustable legs supporting said casters, said legs being telescopically constructed and containing compression springs to equally cushion each of said casters; and drive means connected to said main shaft to turn said table thereby at a desired speed.

2. An improved apparatus for pumping hams, said apparatus comprising: a horizontal table mounted for rotation about a centrally-disposed vertical axis; a plurality of automatic pickle pumping scales mounted uniformly spaced about the top of said table, said pumping scales being of a type that continues to pump pickle into a given ham thereon until said ham accepts a desired weight of liquid pickle; a main vertical shaft supporting said table at said vertical axis; a pair of bearings holding said main shaft, both of said bearings being vertically cushioned on springs; a plurality of casters rollingly supporting said table outwardly of said main shaft, said casters being equally spaced, radially and peripherally,

with respect to said main shaft; and equal plurality of adjustable legs supporting said casters, said legs being telescopically constructed and containing compression springs to equally cushion each of said casters; and drive means connected to said main shaft to turn said table thereby at a desired speed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the springs in said legs are adjustably mounted, and wherein said drive means has a variable speed control.

4. An improved undercarriage for supporting a rotatable turntable for ham pumping apparatus wherein the turntable has a vertical shaft at the center thereof, said undercarriage comprising: bearing means holding said main shaft, said bearing means being vertically cushioned on springs; a plurality of casters for rollingly supporting said turntable outwardly of said main shaft, said casters being equally spaced radially and peripherally with respect to said main shaft; an equal plurality of adjustable legs supporting said casters, said legs being telescopically constructed and containing compression springs to equally cushion each of said casters; and drive means connected to said main shaft to turn said table at a desired speed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said compression springs are adjustably mounted and wherein said drive means includes a variable speed control.

6. An improved apparatus for pumping hams, said apparatus comprising: a horizontal table mounted for rotation about a centrally disposed vertical axis; a plurality of automatic pickle pumping scales mounted uniformly spaced about the top of said table; a main vertical shaft supporting said table at said vertical axis; a rigid undercarriage generally hexagonal in shape disposed beneath said table, said undercarriage including a horizontal web-like frame having a centrally disposed cylindrical housing about portions of said main vertical shaft, and radial arms of equal length extending therefrom to vertical leg sleeve members; leg foot members adjustably fastened in the bottom portions of said leg sleeve members for supporting same above a floor; telescopically mounted upper members extending upwardly from each of said leg sleeve members; compression springs mounted within said sleeve members for cushioningly supporting said upper members; casters secured to the top of said upper members, said casters being positioned tangentially with respect to said cylindrical housings; main shaft bearings slidingly mounted within said cylindrical housing and about said main shaft therein; springs in said housing for urging said bearings and main shaft upwardly; and drive means connected to said main shaft to turn said table thereby at a desired speed.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pumping scales are of a type that continues to pump pickle into a given ham thereon until said ham accepts a desired weight of liquid pickle.

8. An improved apparatus for pumping hams, said apparatus comprising: a horizontal table mounted for rotation about a centrally disposed vertical axis; a plurality of automatic pickle pumping scales mounted uniformly spaced about the top of said table, said pumping scales being of a type that continues to pump pickle into a given ham thereon until said ham accepts a desired weight of liquid pickle; a main vertical shaft supporting said table at said vertical axis, said main shaft being hollow; a rigid undercarriage of generally hexagonal shape disposed beneath said table, said undercarriage including a pair of vertically spaced horizontal Web-like frames having centrally disposed cylindrical housings about portions of said main vertical shaft and radial arms of equal length extending therefromv to vertical leg sleeve members; leg foot members adjustably fastened in the "bottom portions of said leg sleeve members for supporting same above a floor; telescopically mounted upper members extending upwardly from each of said leg sleeve members; compression springs adjustably mounted within said sleeve members for cushioningly supporting said upper members; casters secured to the top of said upper members, said casters being positioned tangentially with respect to said cylindrical housing; main shaft "bearings slidingly mounted within said cylindrical housings and about said main shaft therein; springs in each of said housings for urging said bearings and main shaft upwardly; a variable speed drive means mounted on the lower of said web-like frames and connected to said main shaft, between said cylindrical housings, to turn said table thereby at a desired speed; and supply lines extending to said pumping scales, said lines extending upwardly through said main shaft.

9. An improved undercarriage of generally hexagonal shape for a rotary turntable having a single vertical main shaft and designed for the pumping of hams, said undercarriage comprising a horizontal web-like frame having a centrally disposed cylindrical housing about portions of said main vertical shaft and radial arms of equal length extending therefrom to vertical leg sleeve members; leg foot members adjustably fastened on the bottom portions of said leg sleeve members for supporting same above a floor; telescopically mounted upper members extending upwardly from each of said leg sleeve members; compression springs mounted within said sleeve members for cushioningly supporting said upper members; casters secured to the tops of said upper members, said casters being positioned tangentially with respect to said cylindrical housing; main shaft bearings slidingly mounted within said cylindrical housing and about said main shaft therein; springs in said housing for urging said bearings and main shaft upwardly; and drive means mounted on said web-like frame and connected to said main shaft to turn said turntable thereby at a desired speed.

10. An improved undercarriage of generally hexagonal shape for supporting a rotary turntable having a main vertical shaft and designed for the automatic pumping of hams, said undercarriage comprising: a pair of vertically spaced horizontal web-like frames having centrally disposed cylindrical housings about portions of said main vertical shaft and radial arms of equal length extending therefrom to vertical leg sleeve members; leg foot members adjustably fastened in the bottom portions of said leg sleeve members for supporting same above a floor; telescopically mounted upper members extending upwardly from each of said leg sleeve members; compression springs adjustably mounted within said sleeve members for cushioningly supporting said upper members; casters secured to the tops of said upper members, said casters being positioned tangentially with respect to said cylindrical housings; main shaft bearings slidingly mounted within said cylindrical housings and about said main shaft therein; springs in each of said housings for urging said bearings and said main shaft upwardly; and

- 8 a variable speed drive means mounted on the lower of said web-like frames and connected to said main shaft, between said cylindrical housings, to turn said table thereby at a desired speed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,435,232 11/1922 Hieber 100223 X 2,346,953 4/ 1944 Walter 99256 2,663,247 12/1953 Hensgen et a1 99256 2,681,158 6/1954 Henrikson 13480 X 2,728,285 12/1955 Bradley et al. 99256 2,755,731 7/1956 Hensgen et a1 99256 2,762,290 9/1956 Moss et a1. 99-256 2,809,115 10/1957 Hensgen et al 99159 2,822,078 2/1958 Haven 198209 2,992,926 7/1961 Trachtman et al. 99159 LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PUMPING HAMS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HORIZONTAL TABLE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A CENTRALLY DISPOSED VERTICAL AXIS; A PLURALITY OF AUTOMATIC PICKLE PUMPING SCALES MOUNTED UNIFORMLY SPACED ABOUT THE TOP OF SAID TABLE; A MAIN VERTICAL SHAFT SUPPORTING SAID TABLE AT SAID VERTICAL AXIS; BEARING MEANS HOLDING SAID MAIN SHAFT, SAID BEARING MEANS BEING VERTICALLY CUSHIONED ON SPRINGS; A PLURALITY OF CASTERS ROLLINGLY SUPPORTING SAID TABLE OUTWARDLY OF SAID MAIN SHAFT, SAID CASTERS BEING EQUALLY SPACED RADIALLY AND PERIPHERALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID MAIN SHAFT; AN EQUAL PLURALITY OF ADJUSTABLE LEGS SUPPORTING SAID CASTERS, SAID LEGS BEING TELESCOPICALLY CONSTRUCTED AND CONTAINING COMPRESSION SPRINGS TO EQUALLY CUSHION EACH OF SAID CASTERS; AND DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN SHAFT TO TURN SAID TABLE THEREBY AT A DESIRED SPEED. 